This light turkey or chicken corn chowder recipe is my family's favorite leftovers recipe. It's hearty, satisfying and healthy. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Whether you have leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving feast or an extra rotisserie chicken lying around, this light corn chowder is a hearty meal without all of the extra calories. It's creamy and thick without adding cream, and the flavors of the turkey and corn shine through, alongside a kick from green chiles and cayenne pepper. If you have leftover chicken, that will work, too.
When I'm cooking with chicken breasts or thighs during the week, I try to cook extras so that I can have extras to whip up an easy meal like this. It also works well in some of my other meals that star leftovers.
And what did my family think of this soup? Well, each and every one of them went back for seconds. This is going to be a regular meal in our house!
Here are some of my favorite leftovers recipes that we'll be making this weekend.
Now, let's get to this light corn chowder recipe.
The turkey (or chicken) corn recipe:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.
Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.
Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.
Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.
Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.
Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.
Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.
Other Thanksgiving leftovers recipes:
Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Lasagna Rolls with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Spinach (Low Fat) {Cookin' Canuck}
Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini {Cookin' Canuck}
Baked Tortellini with Turkey, Butternut Squash & Chard {Cookin' Canuck}
Printable Recipe
Light Turkey (or Chicken) & Corn Chowder Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 4 ounce can diced green chiles
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 ¼ cups frozen corn kernels
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups skim milk
- 2 ½ cups shredded cooked turkey or chicken
- ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- green onion thinly sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.
- Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Barb
I just made this chowder today & it is awesome! I used 1% milk because that's what I drink and used our turkey broth from cooking down the turkey bones; and obviously, turkey meat! Also added 1 tsp chicken bouillon to bold up the flavor. Wow, this is good!
Heather
OOOOOOOOOOOOH this chowder looks so good! Completely in love 🙂
Kiki Corcoran
Hi, I'm new to your website and already am enjoying your recipes. This looks so tasty and I am going to make it to take to a sister-in-law when she recovers from surgery next week. It looks pretty, sound delicious, and will be a great comfort food.
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dara! Love the idea of a lightened up chowder to use up any leftover turkey.
Tieghan
Oh I love this, Dara! You always turn out the most awesome and healthy + beautiful foods!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
You're so sweet, Tieghan. Thanks so much!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli
Love this! Creamy chowders are always my favorite but I hate that they're so heavy with the addition of the cream! Definitely keeping this in mind IF I get tired of all the turkey sandwiches I plan to have next week! 😉
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
LOL. Yes, it's hard to resist hot turkey sandwiches, but it's fun to spice things up sometimes.
Taylor @ FoodFaithFitness
Man, this looks like the perfect chowder for my leftover turkey! I can only handle so many leftover turkey sandwiches before I need a little creativity in my diet. Yum!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hear you, Taylor. This soup has fantastic flavor and is one I'll be making whenever I have leftover turkey or chicken in the fridge.
Natalie @ Paper and Birch
We had our Thanksgiving here a month ago. All these yummy recipes make me feel like I should make another turkey!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hope you had a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving! This recipe works just as well with leftover chicken. I hope you'll give it a try.
Liz
Love soup. Thanks Dara.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
This looks fantastic Dara! I'm so ready for soup season!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Liz! I feel the same way. In fact, I'd be quite happy to eat soup for every meal.